Leonard Cohen Live At The IMMA, Dublin

73-year-old maestro creates magic at Kilmainham

Stuart Clark, 19 Jun 2008

Leonard Cohen’s financial loss is our gain, as the 73-year-old rolls into town as part of a tour he’s been forced to undertake after being relieved of his $5 million retirement fund by a rogue former employee.

If Len would rather be at home tending his herbaceous border, it doesn’t show as he launches into a Springsteen-esque three-hour set with a version of ‘Dance Me To The End Of Love’ that has 8,000 jaws dropping in unison.

Attired in the sharpest of charcoal grey suits and matching fedora, he’s still every inch the ladies’ man, and a silver-tongued devil too as he tells us “what a great honour it is, ladies and gentlemen, to play for you in this city of poets and singers.”

Every bit as immaculate as his clothes are Cohen’s ten-piece band whose ranks include long-time musical director Roscoe Beck, Spanish guitar ace Javier Mas and new recruits Charlie and Hattie Webb who, together with Len’s songwriting partner Sharon Robinson, provide the female counterbalance to that deliciously weatherbeaten baritone of his.

There are few surprises, just perfectly excecuted renditions of songs like ‘The Future’, ‘Bird On A Wire’, ‘Everybody Knows’, ‘In My Secret Life’, ‘Tower Of Song’ and – swoon – ‘Thousand Kisses Deep’, which may be from different phases of his career, but blend together seamlessly.

The night’s defining moment comes halfway through, when following a pared down ‘The Gypsy’s Wife’ and playful ‘Boogie Street’, Cohen closes his eyes and, cantor like, intones the opening “Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord/That David played, and it pleased the Lord” verse from ‘Hallelujah’.

The screams in Dublin 8 are orgasmic, while up in heaven you just know that Jeff Buckley’s got a shit-eating grin on his face.

Sorry Bruce, but there goes your ‘Gig of the Year’ award!

Stuart Clark

Older and wiser, Cohen gives us a tingle-inducing sign-off.

2012-02-03

You won’t find a deeply religious old guy moving a giant crowd to stand and cheer his deeply pessimistic philosophy anywhere else except possibly the Vatican...

2010-08-13

We'd recommend grabbing your tickets now!

2010-04-26

The singer's website seems to have jumped the gun.

2010-04-19

He's playing Lissadell House on July 31.

2010-04-17

Cohen is received rapturously by a crowd of 10,000 at the 02

2009-07-31

OAP releases best live album ever?

2009-04-24

It goes on sale next Monday.

2009-04-20

With tickets for Leonard Cohen's July dates selling out in less than an hour this morning, promoters have added a third date, on sale now.

2009-04-07

Voted as one of the top live performers of 2008 in both the Hot Press Readers' and Critics' polls, Leonard Cohen returns for 3 Irish dates this summer.

2009-03-31

Paul Nolan gets a taste of what the Dublin O2 will have to offer, as he visits its London counterpart for a truly stunning Leonard Cohen gig.

2008-12-11

Leonard Cohen has announced on his website that he’s paying a return visit to the venue formerly known as The Point, the O2, on December 1.

2008-07-18

Having sold the previous two out in double-quick time, Leonard Cohen has added a third Royal Hospital Kilmainham show.

2008-03-20

Leonard Cohen will play two dates at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham in June.

2008-03-11

Leonard Cohen fans may be interested in Who By Fire, the Watertowne Theatre Company’s new play.

2007-05-16

Rumours of Bono and Len himself turning up proved to be unfounded, but that didn’t stop Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening Of Leonard Cohen Songs being the stuff legend is made of. Click to view the gallery